Inspiring

Connection, Collaboration
And Celebration

In the Oak City

Why HQ Raleigh

At HQ Raleigh we’re creating a collaborative environment that empowers high-impact, high-growth entrepreneurs to create purpose-driven businesses that leave the world better than they found it. Come check us out and join our community of more than 150 member companies across our multiple locations in Raleigh and more than 500 companies across the state!

Rand Williams, managing partner of The Sorin Group, and his associate Carolyn Meiners will be setting up shop at HQ to discuss with our business owners, HR compliance and employee benefits,namely group health insurance. Specializing in consultation to small business entrepreneurs, they can guide you on the cost and benefits of taking the current health coverage you have in place (if any) and moving to a group health policy - the benefit of which is potentially lower rates and a larger range of plan options from which to choose. Most importantly for the small business owner, having a group health insurance policy already in place before adding new employees will help you attract and retain top talent. Aside from compensation and flexibility, employee benefits rank top of mind for employees in today's workforce.

Our Raleigh Team

Christie Williams has two daughters and two Pit Bulls, and an awesome husband. She is passionate about inclusivity, adoption, local restaurants, and Bluegrass music. When she’s not at work, you can usually find her at an Estate Sale, renovating her home, or repurposing cool furniture.

Jess Porta is the Director of HQ Raleigh. She loves working with members to help solve problems and connect them with unique opportunities. Jess is also an artist, poet, and human rights activist. In the past she worked with victims of human trafficking, after obtaining her Masters of International Studies from NC State and her BA in International Politics and Art History at Penn State. She is currently focused on publishing a children’s book in the summer and raising her black labradoodle pup, Hendrix.

Preet Mankad, relocated from Sydney, Australia, has experience with all the critters from
‘down under’. With a degree in Psychology, Preet’s interests extend from research and
writing to leadership and entrepreneurship. Three things you should know: Preet’s favorite
color is yellow, she loves summer and sunshine, and also has a cat named Greg back in
Sydney.

Lauren Romer is our Community Coordinator at 310 Harrington St. She graduated from North Carolina State University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Communication- Public Relations and recently earned her Real Estate license. When she isn’t at HQ or selling houses you can find her checking out Raleigh’s newest restaurants, traveling, or cuddling with her dog, Hercules.

Reggie McCrimmon is a graduate of North Carolina Central University. He hails from Washington D.C., the Nation’s Capital, but spent his formative years in Fayetteville, N.C. Most recently, Reggie served as the Director of Member Services and External Affairs for the Congressional Black Caucus (“CBC”), also known as the “conscience of the congress”, under the leadership of Chairman G. K. Butterfield and Chairman Cedric L. Richmond. In this capacity, he helped lead programming and outreach efforts that advanced the policy interest of the iconic civil rights and social justice organization. In his spare time, Reggie studies every piece of leadership and organizational development material he can find; trains for a marathon he’ll eventually run and strategize with people crazy enough to believe in being the change they seek in the world. Reggie is currently the Social Entrepreneur-in-Residence at HQ Community, where he leads strategic efforts to increase minority representation and engagement.